Although the dangers of excessive drinking are well-known, stories of drunkenness are repeated daily in all kinds of restaurants and bars. Whether for social obligations or gatherings with friends and family, alcohol has become an indispensable "catalyst." After a few rounds of drinks when one starts to feel the buzz, many people will ask the waiter to bring strong tea to sober up.
In this regard, Zhao Yongyi, a doctor from the Nutrition Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, warns that while strong tea is indeed refreshing and diuretic, using it to sober up can harm the kidneys. She suggests drinking fresh fruit juice or honey water instead. If not, a bowl of sugar water is a safer option than strong tea.
Using Strong Tea to Sober Up Is Not a Good Idea
No banquet is complete without alcohol. In social gatherings or festive dinners, alcohol is always present. "Deep feelings, a gulp down; shallow feelings, just a lick." After a few rounds, someone always gets "buzzed." Even if they won't admit to being drunk, they are not far from it. In such situations, some "seasoned drinkers" will urge the waiter to bring a pot of strong tea to sober up.
"In fact, this practice is very inappropriate," Zhao Yongyi pointed out. Although after drinking a cup, the head might feel less swollen, the heart and kidneys are "badly hurt." She explained that normally, most of the alcohol should be converted into acetaldehyde in the liver and then into acetic acid. The acetic acid is then broken down into carbon dioxide and water and excreted through the kidneys. However, drinking strong tea after alcohol consumption, the theophylline in the tea can quickly exert a diuretic effect on the kidneys, promoting undecomposed acetaldehyde to enter the kidneys prematurely. Acetaldehyde is highly irritating to the kidneys and can cause damage to kidney function; in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Furthermore, the alcohol in beverages is highly irritating to the cardiovascular system, and strong tea also has a stimulating effect on the heart. The combination of the two increases the stimulation on the heart, which can have dire consequences, especially for people with poor heart function.
"However, drinking some light tea after alcohol also has a diuretic effect and can promote the excretion of alcohol," Zhao Yongyi said. Light tea is unlikely to cause damage to the heart and kidneys, so drinking one cup should be fine.
Drinks High in Fructose Are the True Remedy for Intoxication
Although many people know that drunkenness is harmful to the body, sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where you have to drink. So, how can you sober up effectively without harming your body? Zhao Yongyi stated that current research suggests that only fructose, as a nutrient, has a certain effect on accelerating the clearance of alcohol from the bloodstream.
Therefore, if you are already drunk, the most convenient and simplest way is to drink beverages rich in fructose. The top choice is honey water, as most of the content in honey is fructose. Secondly, you can drink fresh fruit juices such as citrus, pear, apple, or watermelon, or have a cup of lemon tea. These fresh fruit juices help to quickly expel alcohol from the body. If possible, you can drink more of them. If you don't have honey water or fresh fruit juice, a bowl of sugar water or some fruit juice drinks will also do.
After drinking fructose-rich beverages and gradually feeling sober, if conditions permit, you can take a hot bath to promote blood circulation and further evaporate the alcohol. This method of sobering up is not only more effective but also harmless to the body.